NBC has won the 2014-15 TV season in the 18-49 demographic for a second consecutive year, thanks to Super Bowl XLIX. Though if you subtract Super Bowl Sunday, CBS notes, it has a slight edge for the season — which is like a trick question because, of course, there is no universe in which there is no Super Bowl Sunday.
Anyway, you’ve probably heard the one about NBC dropping 11% compared to last year, Fox’s 24% crash from No. 2 to No. 4 despite freshman hit Empire, and CBS’ 4% climb to No. 2 from No. 3 in the demo. Not to mention CBS taking the top spot for a seventh year in overall audience with an average of 11.3 million viewers which puts it a lap ahead of second-placed NBC’s 8.6 million.
But what about the shows?
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CBS’ NCIS: New Orleans was the most-watched new series of the season (17.4 million viewers) edging Fox’s Empire at 17.33 million. In the demo, however, Empire is king, with a 7.1 rating, giving NBC’s top-ranked Sunday Night Football (7.3) at least something to think about.
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Fox’s Utopia wrapped the TV season as the least-watched Big 4 freshman series, having convinced an average of just 2.6 million viewers to buy into the concept and time commitment. In the demo, Fox’s Mulaney, NBC’s American Odyssey and Fox’s Weird Loners share lowest-rated-among-freshman status, with a 0.8 rating each.
The most-watched canceled series? CBS’ The Mentalist, which went out averaging 11.8 million viewers. But it bowed out in February, which is so far back it’s practically last season, so let’s also include CSI (11.2 million) which for all intents and purposes is gone, though it’s getting a last hurrah on the first Sunday of the 2015-16 TV season. Meanwhile, CBS’ Stalker is the most-watched freshman series to get the hook (10.1 million). Stalker is a dual title holder, also being the highest-rated freshman series, demo-wise, to bite the dust in this just-concluded TV season.
And the lowest-rated Big 4 renewed series? In total viewers, that would be Fox’s New Girl, which averaged 3.4 million viewers this season. Demo-wise, NBC’s Mysteries Of Laura wins, with a 1.4 rating.
Here are the rankings for the full season, first in the 18-49 demo followed by total viewers. Both lists include Live+7 numbers through May 3 and Live+Same Day for May 4-20:
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